Running v Cycling - The Blood Glucose Experiment

I would think with fueling it is down to the individual (big questions I know) I was a professional athlete and training 6 days a week about 20 years ago. I went off the path after that and have been landed with Diabetes and high cholestral (family history) Which I too have the same questions. What I have noticed is "any" exercise helps a ton! My own experience is that blood sugar can be controlled with a low card diet but what carbs do you need before a big workout? I personaly think it's down to your own body.

It's an interesting read, but I'd take issue with your point that "you need carbs for running".

If you regularly eat carbs, then you force your body into a "sugar burning mode" and make that true. If you don't eat carbs, then you can force your body into "fat burning mode", and for endurance running at least, you should be using muscle glycogen at a much lower rate., and therefore need to replenish it much less oftern.

Well, that's the theory at least (http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Science-C ... 0983490716).

I can't match your achievements as an ultra runner, but I know that I can complete a 10 mile run on an empty stomach, and by eating less than 25g of carbs a day. If I do that, my BG will be rock stable for the rest of the day. Never had a hypo, only ever spike after running 5k races.

S.

The obvious answer to your question is, that when you are cycling you are using the biggest muscle in your body which is your quads. Running mostly uses your calf muscle, not as big, so burns less carbs.

the east man said:

The obvious answer to your question is, that when you are cycling you are using the biggest muscle in your body which is your quads. Running mostly uses your calf muscle, not as big, so burns less carbs.

Click to expand...

Although the quads might be one of the strongest muscles in the human body, the gluteus maximus is the biggest one.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/muscles.html

Very interesting stuff.

I would tend to agree with borofergie though, from what I understand you do not absolutely need carbs.

Also, I am not absolutely agree with you regarding what you consider a BG LOW and a BG HYPO.

As a non diabetic will typically have a BG level of around 4.0 mmoL, I am sure that after strenuous exercise this will drop and I am sure this happened to me, before diagnosis, however, I am not sure if it is entirely significant.
If you feel OK and not on the verge of collapse (anymore than you would expect to be after completion of several hours of physical exercise!), what is the problem? You body will dump glucose from the liver or a small intake of food, not necessarily high carb/high GI and will normally correct this.

Also a BG of 4.9 is not LOW but normal and technically a BG of <3.8 is hypo but if you are only on metaformin I don't see what the big issue is if your BG drops to that level briefly after strenuous exercise.

catherinecherub said:

the east man said:

The obvious answer to your question is, that when you are cycling you are using the biggest muscle in your body which is your quads. Running mostly uses your calf muscle, not as big, so burns less carbs.

Click to expand...

Although the quads might be one of the strongest muscles in the human body, the gluteus maximus is the biggest one.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/muscles.html

Click to expand...

:thumbup:

I wonder if you could get some advice from members of the US Team T2 cycle team.
This is a link to the blog of a cyclist with T2 .
http://cycling2live.com/
He says that he had questions on exercise/nutrition /T2 and got good advice after contacting one of their members via their facebook page (link given on blog)

the east man said:

The obvious answer to your question is, that when you are cycling you are using the biggest muscle in your body which is your quads. Running mostly uses your calf muscle, not as big, so burns less carbs.

Click to expand...

the east man said:

The obvious answer to your question is, that when you are cycling you are using the biggest muscle in your body which is your quads. Running mostly uses your calf muscle, not as big, so burns less carbs.

Click to expand...

I reckon German Track Cyclist Robert Fostermann's quads are bigger than his gluteus maximus:

Didn't help him to win any medals mind...

borofergie said:

the east man said:

The obvious answer to your question is, that when you are cycling you are using the biggest muscle in your body which is your quads. Running mostly uses your calf muscle, not as big, so burns less carbs.

Click to expand...

the east man said:

The obvious answer to your question is, that when you are cycling you are using the biggest muscle in your body which is your quads. Running mostly uses your calf muscle, not as big, so burns less carbs.

Click to expand...

I reckon German Track Cyclist Robert Fostermann's quads are bigger than his gluteus maximus:

Didn't help him to win any medals mind...

Click to expand...

Good God!!! :shock:

Currently,
My BG is going UP at the gym
Hana